Tape recorder with random-wind cartridge



Sept. 5, 1967 A. sElDL 3,340,369

TAPE RECORDER WITH RANDOM-WIND CARTRIDGE original Filed Deo. v4, 1961 5T92 "3 4f' W I NVEN TOR. Akoya/us SI5/0L .Arron/v5 YS United StatesPatent O 3,340,369 TAPE RECORDER WITH RANDOM-WIND CARTRIDGE AloysiusSeidl, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Robert C.Hunter, Cleveland, Ohio Continuation of application Ser. No. 156,598,Dec. 4, 1961. This application Mar. 22, 1966, Ser. No.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No.156,598, filed Dec. 4, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention is for a tape recorder in which the tape is of endlessform.

One object of my present invention is to devise an improved means oflremovable engagement of the cartridge upon the tape deck.

Another object is to devise a tape recorder in which the familiar tapereel is eliminated by having the tape folded back and forth upon itselfin a random manner within the cartridge.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement in which the pressureroller is permanently mounted within the cartridge body.

Another object is to devise a cartridge in which the tape alwaysoccupies one plane within the cartridge and throughout the entireoperation.

Another object is to devise a cartridge in which there is precluded thedanger of the windings of the tape climbing or twisting over each other.

Another object is to devise such a type of cartridge with a convenientand eflicient means for initially effecting the winding of the tapewithin the same in random manner.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims whenconsidered together with the accompanyinfg drawing.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my present device with the transparentcover of the cartridge broken away so as to indicate that it has acover;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

In the accompanying drawing the tape deck is indicated in a general wayby reference numeral 1 and is provided with the usual capstan driveshaft 2 and the recording and reproducing heads 3 for co-operativeengagement with the pressure pad 4 that is mounted upon the cartridge.The cartridge has a transparent top or cover plate 5a and a bottom 5band is adapted for removable slidable engagement within oppositeparallel companion channel members 6 on the top of the tape deck. Thestop 7 at the forward end of the tape deck determines the position ofthe cartridge when in fully operative position upon the tape deck; and areleasable spring 8 holds the same in such assembly while the springnger 9 on the tape deck extends through an opening in the side of thechannel member so as to engage the one side of the cartridge and forcethe same towards the opposite channel member, thereby holding the samemore firmly in assembly without danger of rattling. The forward end ofthe cartridge is provided with an end wall and a recess of suitablewidth to accommodate the drive shaft 2 and has also a suitable openingto permit operative engagement of the recording and reproducing heads 3with the pad 4. The drive shaft 2 is adapted for operative engagementIby the pressure roller that is permanently mounted within the marginalportion of the cartridge bounded by its said end wall; and suchoperative relationship is established when the cartridge is slid intofully engaged position upon the tape deck. Likewise, operativerelationship is also established at the same time -between the heads 3and the pressure y 3,340,369 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 ICC pad 4. 'I'herecess in the end of the cartridge is spaced therealong from thepressure roller and is of a depth wherein the plane of tangency betweenthe capstan drive shaft and t-he pressure roller is substantially normalto the said end wall lof the cartridge.

When the cartridge is loaded with an endless tape T, it extends aboutthe pressure yroller 10, the pressure pad 4 and the corner posts 5c, 5dand 5e that serve also with the corner post 5f to hold the top andbottom plates of the cartridge body together. There are provided tapeguides 11 and 12 in the region of t-he pressure roller 10 and pressurepad 4, also a capstan guard plate 13 so as t-o ensure t-he tape Tpassing properly betweenthe capstan shaft and the pressure roller 10,and a pressure roller guard plate 14 at the opposite side of thepressure roller 10 and to the rear of the pressure pad 4. Along one sideof the cartridge there is what might be termed a fence 15 that is spacedfrom the cartridge wall and is open at its top so as to permitpositioning of the tape T behind the same for guiding the tape from thefront end of the cartridge to the rear end thereof; and another fence 16for guiding the tape T is provided at the rear end of the cartridge.Within the space thus provided by the fence 16 there is a transverselyextending Ibowed spring member 17 of Mylar or similar material to serveas a braking means for stopping the movement of the tape T uponwithdrawal of the pressure roller 10 from engagement with the driveshaft be made of the same material as the `braking means 17.

In loading the cartridge with the endless tape, it is first placed inoperative position about the pressure roller 10 and the pressure pad 4and in position 15 and 16 and also about the corner posts 5c, 5d and Se;`and then, with the main body of the tape extending out through the slot18 in the top plate 5a of the cartridge, the cartridge is mounted inoperative position upon the tape deck so as to effect operation of thepressure roller 10 by the drive shaft 2, whereupon the tape will bedrawn in through the slot 18 and will automatically fold back and forthupon itself in a random manner so as to assume the condition indicatedin the present drawing. The slot 18 is located near the rear end of thetop plate 5a of the cartridge and near the side corresponding to thecorner post 5c and the slot 18 is slightly larger than the of thecartridge and near the side corresponding to the length of the cartridgebody.

In my present form of cartridge, 5a is spaced from the bottom of theless than twice the width of the tape T so as to preclude the danger ofthe tape windings twisting over each -other edge-wise. For instance,with a tape 1A inch wide, the top and bottom plates of the cartridgebody may be spaced three-eighths of an inch apart.

The cartridge body may have a handle 1'9 at the rear end thereof as ameans of facilitating placing the same into and removing the same fromoperative assembly upon the tape deck.

It is though that numerous practical advantages of my present devicewill readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the artto which it relates. 'For instance, by mounting the pressure rollerwithin the cartridge Ibody, the structure of the tape deck iscorrespondingly simplified and this arrangement also contributes to thepractical success of the present particular type of device without latape reel. Also, the elimination of the conventional reel for the tapeprecludes practically all wear upon the tape to which it is usuallysubjected because of friction between the windings of the tape as theyadjust themselves to the varying diameter of the tape coil upon thereel; and there is further eliminated the static that is incident tosuch condition in the reel type of device. The element of wear is stillfurther reduced in my present its top cover plate cartridge a distance2. The guide fences 15 and 16 may also device by having the tapeconfined at all times within the same plane. Also, with my present formof cartridge, it is not necessary that its position be always confinedto a horizontal plane Aas in the reel type of device. Since there isgreatly reduced and uniform degree -of pull upon the tape in theoperation of my present device, due to the greatly simplied form ofdevice which at the same time' is capable of increased eiciency in itsoperation over a prolonged period of time; and it is to be understoodthat the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose ofillustration and that there might be devised various modificationsthereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein setforth and claimed.

I claim:

1. In a tape recording and reproducing device, the combination of a tapedeck and a tape cartridge adapted to be removably placed in operativeposition upon said tape deck, said tape deck having a capstan driveshaft and sound recording and reproducing means, said cartridge havingan end Wall, a pressure pad mounted within said cartridge forco-operation with said recording and reproducing means and a pressureroller mounted in the marginal portion of said cartridge bounded by saidend wall in operative relation to said pressure pad and for cooperationwith said capstan drive shaft, said marginal portion of said cartridgehaving a recess laterally spaced along said end Wall strom said pressureroller and of suitable width to `accommodate said capstan drive shaft,said recess being of a depth wherein the plane of tangency between thecapstan drive shaft and the pressure roller is substantially normal tosaid end Wall, said cartridge -being adapted to contain therewithin a.sound tape movable into and out of operative position between saidcapstan drive shaft and pressure `roller and between said recording andreproducing means and pressure pad according to the .position of saidcartridge with respect to said tape deck, and means for removablypositioning said cartridge in operative relation upon said tape deckwith said capstan drive shaft located within said recess and entirelyWithin said marginal portion of said cartridge, whereby the tape will bedirected into the interior `of said cartridge.

2. The same structure as recited in foregoing claiml and with theaddition of guard means aixed to the end wall of said cartridge so .asto closethe side of said recess away from said 4pressure roller and inthe plane of the path of the tape so as to still further ensuredirection of Y the tape into the interior of said cartridge.

3. The same structure as recited in foregoing claim 1-y and in whichsaid means for removably positioning said cartridge upon said tape deckcomprises means .providing slidable interengagement therebetween in adirection for establishing operative relation thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,394 5/ 1954 Lear 179--100.2

3,140,360 7/ 1964 Whitworth 179-1002 BERNARD KONICK, Primary Examiner.-

I. R. GOUDEAU, Assistant Examiner.

Patent No.

It is hereby certified th ent requiring correction and that the saidUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 ,340 ,369September 5 1967 Aloysius Seidl corrected below Column the side"direction Signed (SEAL) Attest:

2, line 4S, strike out "of the cartridge and near and insert insteadtape that extends in a line 58, for "though" read thought and sealedthis 13th day of August 1968.

EDWARD J BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. IN A TAPE RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF A TAPEDECK AND A TAPE CARTRIDGE ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY PLACED IN OPERATIVEPOSITION UPON SAID TAPE DECK, SAID TAPE DECK HAVING A CAPSTAN DRIVESHAFT AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MEANS, SAID CARTRIDGE HAVINGAN END WALL, A PRESSURE PAD MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CARTRIDGE FORCO-OPERATION WITH SAID RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MEANS AND A PRESSUREROLLER MOUNTED IN THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID CARTRIDGE BOUNDED BY SAIDEND WALL IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID PRESSURE PAD AND FOR COOPERATIONWITH SAID CAPSTAN DRIVE SHAFT, SAID MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID CARTRIDGEHAVING A RECESS LATERALLY SPACED ALONG SAID END WALL FROM SAID PRESSUREROLLER AND OF SUITABLE WIDTH TO ACCOMMODATE SAID CAPSTAN DRIVE SHAFT,SAID RECESS BEING OF A DEPTH WHEREIN THE PLANE OF TANGENCY BETWEEN THECAPSTAN DRIVE SHAFT AND THE PRESSURE ROLLER IS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TOSAID END WALL, SAID CARTRIDGE BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN THEREWITHIN ASOUND TAPE MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAIDCAPSTAN DRIVE SHAFT AND PRESSURE ROLLER AND BETWEEN SAID RECORDING ANDREPRODUCING MEANS AND PRESSURE PAD ACCORDING TO THE POSITION OF SAIDCARTRIDGE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TAPE DECK, AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLYPOSITIONING SAID CARTRIDGE IN OPERATIVE RELATION UPON SAID TAPE DECKWITH SAID CAPSTAN DRIVE SHAFT LOCATED WITHIN SAID RECESS AND ENTIRELYWITHIN SAID MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID CARTRIDGE, WHEREBY THE TAPE WILL BEDIRECTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CARTRIDGE.